Legend [17786]
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On This Date: 1999 Clemson- 33 (22)Virgina- 14
Sep 11, 2022, 3:51 PM
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09/11/1999
Clemson, SC
Clemson Upsets No. 22 Virginia As Streeter Breaks School Passing Record
His coach thinks Brandon Streeter's arm is weak, and that he runs like Forrest Gump. "Did I say that about Brandon?" Clemson's Tommy Bowden said. "I meant he runs worse than Forrest Gump."
But no one has ever had the kind of Death Valley passing day as Streeter, who threw for a school-record 343 yards and two touchdowns Saturday in the Tigers' 33-14 victory over No. 22 Virginia.
Streeter, a senior, took most of the abuse for Clemson's 3-8 record a year ago. When Bowden came in last December, the talk was that versatile junior quarterback Woodrow Dantzler or flashy, smart freshman Willie Simmons would soon be calling plays.
Streeter, a big smile on his face, finally felt like he belonged after the Tigers (1-1 overall, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) ripped the Cavaliers (1-1, 0-1).
"This is one of my top moments here, it's got to be, it is," he said. "Because I got to start this game and beat a team like Virginia. It's real exciting for me." On a day when Clemson's national championship coach, Danny Ford, reminded Tigers fans how they used to win, Streeter showed them how they'll win in the future with Bowden. Ford, saluted at Death Valley for the first time in 10 years as he was inducted into the school's hall of fame, won five Atlantic Coast Conference titles in the 1980s with power running and ball control.
Streeter threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Brian Wofford and a 15-yarder to Pat Cyrgalis Clemson's first to a tight end since Ford's last season for a 20-0 lead at halftime.
After the break, the Tigers made it 33-0 on Travis Zachery's 2-yard touchdown run and Javis Austin's 3-yard run. Virginia had come in hoping to run Thomas Jones, the ACC's leading rusher, to its third consecutive victory over Clemson. Jones ended with 97 yards, only 21 in the second half. "They were blitzing a lot and did some things we hadn't seen in practice," Jones said. "In the second half, we had to throw the ball more."
Streeter, who was 24-of-32, broke his own record of 329 yards set last year in a loss to North Carolina State.
"I was so proud f Brandon," said receiver Brian Wofford, who had eight catches for 143 yards. "You could see this coming for a while."
Bowden and offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez had worked Streeter hard on their system since the spring. The coaches knew it would take someone with some fortitude to stand in with five new starters on the offensive line. "He has been under live fire before," Bowden said. "Brandon comes from a coaching family and makes good decisions. The triggerman in this offense is very important and to have a senior with experience really helps us." Clemson's stingy defense looked the same as in Ford's heyday. It took advantage of Virginia mistakes and junior quarterback Dan Ellis, starting just his second game, to keep the Cavaliers off the board. Kicker Todd Braverman, who kicked the game-winner in Virginia's 20-17 victory at North Carolina last week, bounced a 32-yard try off the left upright. Jones had churned to Clemson's 11 on Virginia's next possession when he fumbled. Ellis was 19-of-33 for 233 yards.
The Tigers moved the ball easily and didn't punt until midway through the fourth quarter.
Clemson had fallen far in the decade since Ford, who never lost to Virginia in 11 seasons. The Tigers were 1-7 in the ACC last year and had lost five of their past six games.
It was Clemson's first victory over a ranked team since beating North Carolina State on Sept. 13, 1997.
This was what Clemson wanted when it went after Bowden, who led Tulane to a 12-0 season last year and replaced Tommy West with the Tigers. But last week, the Tigers' offense was outgained and its defense spotty in a 13-10 home loss to Marshall.
Streeter, a senior, made sure that didn't happen again. He hit 10 of his first 11 passes and was 17-of-23 for 232 yards in the first half. He led a 77-yard drive, which ended with Zachery's TD, to start the third quarter and put Virginia away.
"You get more and more comfortable, and more and more confident," Streeter said. "Once that happens, when everybody's making big players, it builds everybody's confidence and it definitely builds mine."
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